RAN retires S-70B-2, AS350BA helicopters

Gabriel Dominguez - Jane's Defence Weekly

01 December 2017

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) retired its S-70B-2 ‘Bravo’ Seahawk and AS350BA Squirrel helicopters from active service in a ceremony held on 1 December at the naval air station HMAS Albatross in New South Wales.

In a statement issued that same day the RAN said that the S-70B-2 was in the Fleet Air Arm inventory for more than 28 years and was operationally deployed in the Middle East throughout most of its entire service history, while the AS350BA served for 33 years “amassing an enviable record in both operations and training”.

Commodore Chris Smallhorn, the commander of the Fleet Air Arm, said that both aircraft have a proud record of service to Australia.

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